Summer Celebrations

The month of June is known for its warm sunny days, balmy nights and of course weddings. It’s hard to summon up this image with the rain we have had these past few days. Yet I do remember the June of my childhood when days were spent playing in the never ending sunshine and the heat continued into the night. Days of picnics, butterflies, splashing in the sea and running barefoot....Bliss....Walking along the harbour last week with the sun shining I was reminded of those long ago summers...but I’m yet to see a butterfly, moth or ladybird. Not even the dreaded May bugs have been seen (that I am happy about, they are not nice...)....but the sun didn’t last and despite being warm summer is not the same without sunshine. Hard to believe that in three days time on June 24 we will be celebrating Midsummer Day, which was the longest day of the year in the Julian calendar. The longest day and shortest night is now June 21, which began with the Summer Solstice at 23.59 last night. Although some still celebrate Midsummer Day on June 24, many view the Summer Solstice as one of the most important events of the year. The name Summer Solstice is derived from the Latin words sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still).......

The period around the Summer Solstice and Midsummer Day will be celebrated in different ways around the world. Many of these celebrations are linked to local tradition and history. Here in some parts of the UK, especially in Cornwall, some of the old traditions have been revived. One ancient tradition was the lighting of bonfires on hilltops, which was of great importance around the Summer Solstice. The use of fire was believed to strengthen the sun, drive out evil and bring prosperity and fertility to man, crops and livestock. In the time of the Celts balefires would be lit all over the land from sunset on Midsummer Eve until sunset Midsummer Day. It was around these fires that celebrations would take place. In some parts of Cornwall these bonfire celebrations can be seen on some hilltops on Midsummer Eve. One site is St. Just in Penwith - Carn Brea. I only know of one Carn Brea (Cornish: Karnbre), which is one of my favourite places and in my mind an ideal site!!!.......

Thinking of Carn Brea prompted me to visit my box of photographs and this time I managed to find what I was looking for!!! Below is a picture I took of Cran Brea Castle in January 2003.......

Being a weekday in January Carn Brea was deserted, just the way I like it. The photograph below is part of the walkway up to the castle. Having left hubby in the car I proceeded to walk up towards the castle. Stopping on the way to listen to the quite of this peaceful place and take in the atmosphere. As I approached the castle I heard someone playing Greensleeves!!!! This old English ballad had an haunting sound and having seen no other person about I wonder if I had for a moment slipped back into another century! Would a horse with rider suddenly rush out of the gorse (I do have a vivid imagination...). Remembering that I was in the 21st century I slowly moved towards the castle and found the source of the music. It was a young man sat on a rock playing a small pipe, not in Lincoln Green but wearing jeans and jumper. So much for my knight in shining armour...but magical all the same...

With my feet firmly back in the right century I carried on walking around this mysterious place and discovered a fantastic view all around me. The photograph below shows just one of them, where you can see the redundant chimneys of tin mining...

I have been back to Carn Brea since but have never heard Greensleeves playing again....The castle itself was originally built as a chapel in 1379 before being rebuilt in the 18th century by the Basset family as a hunting lodge. It's later function was a restaurant, where I had the opportunity to go for a meal with a friend who was on holiday.....but for me that first visit was the most memorable......

The date for this posting should read Saturday June 21 and another Cornish midsummer celebration is Golowan, which takes place at Penzance. Beginning today, there will be different events throughout the week ending with Mazey Day on June 28........but that’s for next time...lol.......

You can listen to Greensleeves here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRrzpHpwkm0&feature=related